Folding display rack



Nov. 22, 1938. b. w. FLAGLER 2,137,895

\ FOLDING DISPLAY RACK Filed Feb. 1, 1958 .27, WEE Jar wwa Patented Nov. 22, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE to Grosman Seed Corporation,

Inc., East Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application February 1, 1938, Serial No. 188,171

2 Claims.

The invention forming the subject matter of this application is a folding display rack adapted to be used as a pedestal for supporting trays or the like for display merchandise.

The main object of the invention is to provide a very light and strong support which can be construotedinexpensively iromwire to form a pedestal for supporting display trays and the like, and which can be readily collapsed from operative to inoperative position because of its peculiar construction.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent as the detailed description thereof proceeds:

In the drawing:

Figure l is a perspective of the display rack expanded to form a rigid support for a merchandise display stand, indicated in dotted outline in Figure 1;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan View, to an enlarged scale, of the rack in its expanded position, as shown in Figure l;

Figure 3 is a perspective View of the display rack showing the parts thereof in partly collapsed position;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail illustrating the manner of positioning a display stand upon the rack; and

Figure 5 is a vertical, transverse section taken on the line 55 of Figure 1.

As shown in the drawing, the invention includes ends 6 identical in structure and foldably connected to each other by pivotally connected diagonal skeleton panels I and 8. Each end 6 comprises a rod bent to form a pair of substantially parallel legs 9 and Ill extending from the opposite ends of a top rail II, and a pair of diagonal braces l2 and I3. The free ends of the braces l2 and I3 are preferably welded to the legs ill and 9 near the upper ends thereof, and these braces are welded to each other at their intersection.

Struts l4 and I5, substantially parallel to each other and to rail II are welded to the legs 9 and Hi. The strut I4 is located a short distance from the top rail II and forms a support for the lower ends of U-shaped brackets I6 and I1 formed on the opposite ends of a retaining rod l8. This rod l8 and the brackets l6 and H are so constructed that when the free upper ends of the brackets are welded to the innerside of the top rail II, the lower parts of said brackets rest on and are welded to the strut I4, while the retaining rod I8 is spaced apart laterally from the top rail II a suflicient distance to receive the projecting lower end of one of the side walls W of a display stand.

As shown particularly in Figure 4 of the drawing, the two members II and I8 constitute a form of yielding clip adapted to receive the lower end of the wall W and hold the same securely in position on the display rack. The strut l4, being located on the outside of the end 6, serves as a support for the lower end of the wall W, and relieves the strain on the welded connections be- 10 tween the upper ends of the brackets I5 and I1 and the top rail II.

The diagonal bracing panel 1 comprises a pair of rods i9 and 20 pivotally connected at their upper ends to a strut i l on one of the ends 6. Preferably, this pivotal connection is effected by bending the upper ends of the rods I9 and 20 to form eyes extending around the strut Id. The lower ends of the rods I9 and 2|] are also bent to form eyes 2| and 22 adapted to snap onto the 20 ends 23 and 24 of the lower strut I5 where it projects beyond the outer side of the legs 9 and Ill.

The rods I9 and 20 are secured together by the cross braces 25 and 26. The brace 25 projects 25 at its opposite ends from the rods I9 and 2D to form pivots for cooperating pivot washers 21 to be described hereinafter. The cross brace 26 is secured to the rods l9 and 20 near their lower ends so as to space the free ends of the rods l9 and 20 at a distance apart less than the distance between the legs 9 and It. It will be understood that the rods I9 and 20 are of somewhat springy material in order to permit the lower ends of said rods to be bent outwardly from each other for the purpose of allowing the eyes 2i and 22 to snap onto the projecting ends of the strut I5 and against the outer sides of the legs 9 and I0.

The diagonal bracing panel 8 comprises the rods 28 and 29 similar in every respect to the rods I9 and 28; that is, having their opposite ends turned to form eyes by means of which the upper ends of the rods 28 and 29 are pivoted to a strut is and their lower ends pivoted detachably to the projecting ends of the lower strut I5 on the end 6 opposite to the end connected to the panel 7. The cross brace 26 is similar to the cross brace 25 and is welded to the rods 28 and 29 at a suficient distance from the lower ends of said rods to permit said lower ends to be spread apart 50 when it is desired to snap the eyes 2| and 22 onto the outwardly projecting ends of the strut 55.

It will be apparent from the drawing that when the parts are expanded as shown in Figure 1, the diagonal panels I and 8 form with the ends 6 a light and very strong pedestal for supporting a display stand. The members H and I8 constitute spring clip channels adapted to receive the lower ends of the side walls of a display stand to hold the latter securely in position on the rack. Whenever it is desired to fold the rack, it is only necessary to remove the display stand therefrom and then to spread apart the lower ends of the rods l9 and 20, and 28 and 29, to release the same from the projecting ends of the lower struts IS. The length of each of the rods l9 and 20 and 28 and 29 is intended to be substantially equal to the distance between their supporting struts I 4 and the lower ends of the legs 9 and ID, so that when the rack is folded, none of the parts of the diagonal bracing panels will project beyond the upper and lower ends of the legs 9 and Hi.

It will be understood that the invention is not to be considered as limited to the specific details of construction shown in the drawing, nor in any other manner except as indicated in the claims appended hereto.

What I claim is:

l. A display rack comprising normally vertical substantially parallel spaced apart wire sides, skeleton diagonal braces of springy material pivotally connected to each other between their ends and pivoted at one end of each to the upper ends of said sides, the lower ends of said braces being provided with eyes, pins projecting laterally from opposite edges of said sides to receive said eyes detachably, and means spaced from said lower ends for'holding the sides of each brace at a distance apart slightly less than the width of said vertical sides to cause said eyes to snap over said pins and press against the outer edges of said sides.

2. A display rack comprising normally vertical substantially parallel spaced apart wire sides, skeleton diagonal braces of springy material pivotally connected to each other between their ends and pivoted at one end of each to the upper ends of said sides, the lower ends of said braces being provided with eyes, pins projecting laterally from opposite edges of said sides to receive said eyes detachably, means spaced from said lower ends for holding the sides of each brace at a distance apart slightly less than the width of said vertical sides to cause said eyes to snap over said pins and press against the outer edges of said sides, and spring clip rods parallel to the upper ends of said sides to receive and position the downwardly projecting opposite end walls of a display stand.

DUDLEY W. FLAGLER. 

